What Is Meant By "Polishing" Metal?

[fiddleharp]

When I hear you gunsmith-types talking about "polishing" metal-to-metal surfaces, does that mean you are using an electric tool of some sort? Or can the same thing be achieved with just steel wool?
The feed ramp on my CZ-52 looks like it could be a little more shiny. That'll help if feed smoother, right?

 

[Ghost Walker]

Yes! To polish metal means to gradually reduce the surface from rough to smooth - sometimes as smooth as glass. There are a wide variety of mediums you can use: e.g.; steel wool, 4,000 grit emery paper, or fine white jeweler's rouge. There are, also, a number of good cream polishes you can put on a buffing wheel that will bring up a high luster.

For your CZ, I'd recommend one of the following: If you know what you're doing use a Dremel Tool with a hard felt, 'bullet tip'. Apply a little Simichrome or Flitz metal polish to the wheel and run it at 5,000 (or so) rpm in 10-15 second intervals for as long as a minute. Allow the metal to cool down between intervals. That should more than do the job.

If a Dremel tool is new to you, just use a little metal polish on the end of a Q-Tip. Rub the area for a few minutes until it starts to shine.

 

[fiddleharp]

Thanks GW! I don't even own a dremel, so I'll do it manually. I'm semi-retired anyway, so I'm not in a hurry.

 

[Azrael256]

I don't claim to be an expert on CZs, but I do claim to be an expert at not fixing things that aren't broken...

Don't polish your feed ramp unless you are attempting to fix an identified problem, and polishing that part is the known solution to the problem you experience. Hint: Polishing a part is almost never the solution to anything. Particularly feed ramps.

 

[dfariswheel]

When we talk about "polishing" feed ramps and action parts, we really mean "smoothing", "de-burring" or perhaps "honing".

The idea is to remove any roughness that might cause a bullet to hang up on the feed ramp.
The absolutely minimal amount of polishing to accomplish that, the better.
Removing material trying for a mirror-like surface does NOTHING and often will actually cause trouble.
I've seen pistols that have had the feed ramps over-polished to the extent barrels and even frames have been ruined.

So, why do you see custom pistols with mirror bright feed ramps?
Simple. The customer pays the gunsmith to do a "polish job" and when he gets the gun back and he sees a smooth ramp but no bright polish, he figures the 'smith charged for something he didn't do.
So, the gunsmith makes sure to give the ramp a mirror-like shine simply to please the customer.

There is NO difference in reliability between a SMOOTH ramp, and one with a bright shine you can see yourself in.

Finally, the ONLY reason you should even consider polishing your ramp is if bullets are failing to feed over the ramp.
Unless your gun is jamming with bullets stopped on the feed ramp, there's nothing wrong with the ramp, and you're more likely to cause trouble from an improper "polish" job.

Pistols that need a "polish job" on the feed ramp are RARE.

In other words: If it ain't broke, DON'T "fix it".

 

[Jim K]

Now you've done it. Just think of all the gun gurus who have spent a lifetime convincing folks that polishing the ramp is the answer to every pistol problem, and all the gunsmiths who have become rich and famous by getting that mirror finish and then explaining why the gun still jams and needs even more expensive work.

Shame on you!

Jim

 

[1911Tuner]

Put the Dremel down slowly. Back away, and nobody gets hurt...

 

[dfariswheel]

"Now you've done it."

Half the fun of retirement is making trouble for those still working.

 

[sm]

I asked that question once upon a time.
I was about so tall, had to walk barefoot, uphill, both directions in the snow everyday attending Publik Skool in the South...and to where I was just starting to my apprenticeship.

No Dremels, they had not come to be yet.

It would not have done me any good anyway.
There was a Foredom Flexshaft, and a Polishing machine with 1750 and 3450 speeds...I could look, but not touch these.

Hand skills. Everything was done by hand.

Solid Brass Cube. I had finally worked up to the Solid Brass Cube.
"I want this Exactly 52.0 mm in diameter, and I want to be able to see my reflection".

Brass Orbs come from Brass Cubes all done with hand tools.

I have never owned a Dremel, I do appreciate function, fit , finish.

I also know after so many rounds a feed ramp takes on a patina, and finish of its own, and I'd rather be shooting than doing something I don't need to do to a gun for it to run.

Then again guns were made right, with good metallurgy, craftsmanship and quality control, and they ran out of the box as well back when.


Bananas and Orange Juice are very good for assisting with finger, and hand cramps.
Just a guess, some others can relate, and agree.